The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-25
SOME NEW aOOka


OF che sixteen new biographies that have
appeared In the American Statesmen" series
none were 10 much nee led. and none will 80
materially modify the current estimate OF the
subject. rs the life OF Patrick Henry BY NOSES
Corr TYLER tHoughton, Mifin 4 Goa Such
book was imperatively called for because the
only memoir Of Henry In existence which had
some claim to DO based on original In
vestigation was that By William Writ. pub
lishod as long ago as 1917. Much testimony OF
undoubted authenticity and great value was
either unknown or inaccessible to the author OF
that book. who. on the other hand. allowed his
impression Of Henry's talents and career to be
colored and distorted BY evidence derived
from Jefferson In the latter's later years, when
his early friendship for Henry had been sup
planted By prejudice and resentment 1t was
left for the present biographer to demonstrate
that the evidence OF Jefferson. In almost
every particular where It tended to disparage
Henrys abilities or character. was untrust-
worthy. and to collect from multitude OF
sources moro authentic Information. handed
down In public documents. private letters.
or tho recollections OF credible eyswitnesses.
The result IL that the story Of Patrick Henry's
life has been found b need reconstruction from
top to bottom. therd being hardly any promi-
mont feature Of the man or OF the work he did
about which We had not derived from Writ. d.
rectly or mediately. . mistaken or erroneous
conception. When such SHORTCOMINGS are cor
rooted and the whole story Is retold. the figure
Of Patrick Henry stands forth in much moro
towering proportions, and for the lrst time We
comprehend tho grasp which he retained for
upward OF . generation on the admiration.
respect. and affection Of the people Of Virginia.
II there arc any facts about Patrick Henry
that have been commonly accepted as amply
verified. they are the following. He was Of lowly
birth. and was, 90 to speak. the incarnation
Of the spirit OF revolt on the part OF the
meaner whites against the udewater arts
tocracy; he was illitsrate. and vas for that
reason loath to commit his thoughts to writ
ing: he was no lawyer. but at best was capable
Of practising upon the prejudices and feelings
OF . jury In criminal causes, while to pub
lio Affairs he brought neither the equip
msnt nor tho wisdom Of states
man. but was mainly conspicuous for
the gifts OF . declaimer and the arts Of . wire
puller. That he did. by the spoken word. at
times produce o marvellous effect upon his
auditors has not been disputed. but there has
been disposition to underrate the weight OF
the testimony offered on this head BY imput-
Ing TO the Witnesses . low standard Of COM
psrison. Thus It Is inferred. from Q remark
dropped BY Jefferson In his old ago. that whom
Henry passed from tho stump. the county
Legislature to the moro exacting Council
room Of the Continental Congress. he proved
unable to sustain himself In tho new medium.
and sank to his true level
Now. the effect OF Prof. Tyier's book Is to
convince US that not single one Of these
long-currcnt Impressions, which together
60 80 far to make up the popular estimate
OF Patrick Henry. Is well founded. On
his fathers side Patrick Henry came OF
lineage quite as respectable as that Of the
Scotch dominic who settled In the colony OF
New York and founded the family Of Living
ston. He was the nephew OF William Robert
son. who was minister OF Botnwick In Mid
Lothian. and afterward OF the Old Grey Friar's
Church in Edinburgh. and he was . cousin Of
the famous historian Of Charles ", William
Robertson. the principal OF tho University OF
Edinburgh. It Is also Interesting to learn that
Patrick Henry's father was q second cousin
OF the Eleanor syme who, In lit. be-
came the wife Of Henry Brousham Of Brough.
am Hall. and mother Of Lord Brougham.
That Patrick Aenry's father was . man OF
liberal education is shown by the positions he
long held of County Surveyor. Colonel Of his
regiment and presiding Judge Of the County
Court. His wife was one Of the Winstons Of
virginia. q family OF position and fortune. and
Il was long remembered in the tidewater
country that William Winston. the brother OF
Patrick Henry's mother. had possessed gift
OF eloauence unsurpassed By any Virginia
orator except by Patrick himself Such were
the parents Of Patrick Henry. who was born on
his mothers estate OF Studley. In Hanover
county. on May 80. 1726.
Let us see. next. how much proof there IL Of
his alleged tliteracy. 1t Is true that his school
days were over at fifteen. but We shall ind
nothing conclusive In that fact when We recall
that as late as the nrst quarter Of this century
many boys and Edward Everett among them.
graduated from Harvard College, at an age con-
siderably earlier. Between his eleventh and
sixteenth year-the period during which most
Of his contemporaries got all the instruction
In the classics and the sciences that
ever fell to their lot-Patrick Henry was
taught Latin. Greek. and mathematics at
homo BY his father. and BY his paternal uncle,
tho Rev. Patrick Henry. rector Of St.
Paul's parish. both Of whom had received
in Scotland. and were doubtless able 10 i'm
part, quite Is good an education as was then
obtainable at William and Mary College. Or for
that matter. anywhere In the thirteen colonies
Plain. at all events. 1t is that he enjoyed greater
advantages, SO far as tuition Is concerned. than
either BENJAMIN Franklin or George Washing
ton. 1t may. however. DO acknowledged. on
the authority OF tradition. that Patrick Henry
did not through unremittine industry profit By
or evinee at that time much relish for book
learning. Tho Same thing may DO said to-day
OF the majority OF the young men who arc 3D.
mitted to our most deliberately appointed uni
versities although they, as a rule, matriculate
at an age moro mature than that at which the
whole tuition Of Patrick Henry ceased That
no road books and to good purpose. after he
entered the bar and took part In public life Is
made clear BY Prof. Tyler when his achieve
ments are recounted In detail.
But Patrick Henry was not admitted to the
bar until l760. at the ago Of a. The nine pre-
vious years had been years Of experiment and
failure in several directions, and 1t Is no doubt
10 this initial period OF his life that most Of the
mistakes regarding his birth and youthful sur
roundings may be traced. He twice tried store
keeping and twice became q bankrupt He
tried farming. and at the end Of two years had
70 make o forced sale Of land. stock. and slaves.
At the age OF Is he had made what, from a